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Solitaire (Klondike)
Klondike is the card game most people mean when they say "Solitaire." It became massively popular after Microsoft included it in Windows 3.0 in 1990 as a way to teach mouse skills. The game uses a standard 52-card deck and has been analyzed extensively — roughly 79% of deals are theoretically winnable, though actual win rates are much lower.
Solitaire (Klondike) Rules
The tableau has 7 columns. Column 1 has 1 card, column 2 has 2 cards, and so on up to column 7 with 7 cards. Only the top card of each column is face-up. The remaining cards form the stock pile.
Build on the tableau in descending order with alternating colors. For example, a red 6 goes on a black 7. You can move a face-up card (or a properly ordered stack of face-up cards) to another column if the bottom card follows this rule.
When a face-down card is exposed, flip it face-up. When a column is empty, only a King (or a stack starting with a King) can be placed there.
The four foundation piles are built up by suit from Ace to King. Draw cards from the stock pile three at a time. The game is won when all 52 cards are on the foundations.
Solitaire (Klondike) Strategy & Tips
Always play Aces and Twos to the foundation immediately
There's never a reason to keep an Ace or a Two in the tableau. They can't have anything built on them in descending order, and they start the foundation piles. Move them up as soon as they appear.
Uncover face-down cards first
Your priority should be revealing hidden cards, not building neat tableau stacks. A move that flips a face-down card is almost always better than a move that doesn't. The more information you have, the better your decisions.
Don't empty a column without a King ready
An empty column can only be filled by a King. If you empty a column and don't have a King to place there, you've wasted a valuable spot. Keep a King in mind before you clear a column.
Go through the stock pile before making big decisions
If you're choosing between two equally good-looking moves, flip through the stock pile first. You might see a card that makes one option clearly better. Information from the stock can change your entire strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Solitaire games are winnable?
About 79% of Klondike Solitaire deals are theoretically winnable with perfect play. In practice, most players win around 10-20% of their games because it's very difficult to play optimally without knowing the hidden cards. An experienced player might win 30-40%.
What is the difference between Klondike and other Solitaire games?
Klondike is the specific variant with 7 tableau columns and a stock pile. Other popular variants include FreeCell (all cards visible, 4 free cells), Spider (two decks, build by suit), and Pyramid (pair cards that add to 13). Each has its own rules and strategy.
Can you move stacks of cards in Solitaire?
Yes, in Klondike you can move a properly ordered stack (descending, alternating colors) as a unit to another column, as long as the bottom card of the stack fits on the destination card. For example, a red 5 on a black 6 can be moved together onto a red 7.